Chin protection system

ABSTRACT

A chin protection system for releasable attachment to a wide variety of helmets through the use of an elastically-deformable helmet cover, a pliable retainer, and a chin protector. The system safely attaches to a helmet without any modifications to the helmet and therefore does not impact the warranty or safety rating of the helmet. The helmet cover is designed to stretch and conform to numerous different helmet styles and manufacturers, while serving as an attachment point for the pliable retainer. The pliable retainer provides the tensile force necessary to keep the chin protector in place throughout the range of movement common during sporting activities, as well as during an impact to the chin. The chin protection system may be utilized on any safety helmet including, but not limited to, bike helmets, skateboard helmets, rollerblade helmets, ski/snowboard helmets, motorcycle helmets, go-cart helmets, baseball and softball helmets, and climbing helmets.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

This invention was not made as part of a federally sponsored research or development project.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to protection equipment for the human chin; more specifically to a chin protection system that can be attached to an existing safety helmet without any modifications to the helmet.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Injuries to the heads of children and adults due to falls and/or collisions experienced during sporting events such as bicycling, skateboarding, and rollerblading have been reduced as a result of more widespread recognition that helmets should be worn during such activities. However, helmets do little to protect the chin, mandible, and facial structures of a user during a face forward fall, which generally result in chin lacerations and possible facture of the mandible.

Safety helmets generally require a system to retain the helmet on a user's head during a violent impact. Therefore, most safety helmets incorporate retainer straps that are adjustable and are designed to connect to the helmet on one side, pass under the chin, and reattach to the helmet on the other side. The benefit of such systems is that the retainer strap is designed to be adjusted so that it fits comfortably below the chin, while not exerting uncomfortable pressure on the neck, yet is such a length that it is impossible for it to pass over the chin during an impact and allow the helmet to come off the user's head. Such systems avoid attachment at the chin because it would be possible for a chin attachment system to be dislodged from the chin during a violent impact and risk unintended removal of the helmet.

Therefore the field has needed a supplemental system that serves to protect a user's chin and adding stability to a helmet system, while not reducing the safety associated with traditional retainer straps. Further, the field has needed a supplemental system that accommodates the wide variety of helmet sizes and shapes so that it is not limited to a specific model of helmet.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A chin protection system for releasable attachment to a wide variety of helmets through the use of an elastically-deformable helmet cover, a pliable retainer, and a chin protector. The chin protection system safely attaches to a helmet without any modifications to the helmet and therefore does not impact the warranty or safety rating of the helmet. The helmet cover is designed to stretch and conform to numerous different helmet styles and manufacturers, while also serving as an attachment point for the pliable retainer. The pliable retainer provides the tensile force necessary to keep the chin protector in place throughout the range of movements common during sporting activities, as well as during an impact to the chin. The chin protection system also serves a stability system that ensure the helmet stays squarely in place on a users head during rapid head movements, such as during tricks, something lacking from a helmet's under-the-chin strap system.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Without limiting the scope of the present system, referring now to the drawings and figures:

FIG. 1 shows a front elevation view of a user wearing a helmet, not to scale;

FIG. 2 shows a side elevation view of a user wearing a helmet, not to scale;

FIG. 3 shows a side elevation view of a user wearing a helmet outfitted with a chin protection system, not to scale;

FIG. 4 shows a front elevation view of a user wearing a helmet outfitted with a chin protection system, not to scale;

FIG. 5 shows a front elevation view of a user wearing a helmet outfitted with a chin protection system, not to scale; and

FIG. 6 shows a top plan view of a helmet outfitted with a chin protection system, not to scale.

These drawings are provided to assist in the understanding of exemplary embodiments as described in more detail below and should not be construed as unduly limiting. In particular, the relative spacing, positioning, sizing and dimensions of the various elements illustrated in the drawings are not drawn to scale and may have been exaggerated, reduced or otherwise modified for the purpose of improved clarity. Those of ordinary skill in the art will also appreciate that a range of alternative configurations have been omitted simply to improve the clarity and reduce the number of drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The claimed chin protection system enables a significant advance in the state of the art of facial injury prevention and is designed to not effect a helmet's accreditation by a safety organization. The chin protection system is releasably attached a helmet (100) without impacting the helmet's safety rating because it does not modify the helmet in any manner in order to secure the system to the helmet, and it does not modify the means by which the helmet is meant to be retained on a user during an impact. A generic helmet is illustrated in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 and is generally illustrated as a bike helmet, although the present invention may be utilized on any safety helmet including, but not limited to, bike helmets, skateboard helmets, rollerblade helmets, ski/snowboard helmets, motorcycle helmets, go-cart helmets, baseball and softball helmets, and climbing helmets, just to name a few.

Such helmets (100) are typically characterized by a rigid helmet shell (110) and a helmet ledge (120), as seen in FIG. 1. The helmet (100) has a helmet dextral, or right, side (101), a helmet sinistral, or left, side (102), a helmet front (103), and a helmet rear (104). The maximum distance between the helmet front (103) and the helmet rear (104) is referred to as the helmet length (105). Similarly, the maximum distance between the helmet dextral side (101) and the helmet sinistral side (102) is referred to as the helmet width (106). Most helmets have a convex outer surface designed to curve with a user's head and often includes curvature to minimize aerodynamic drag and/or maximize protection to a user's head during an impact. Every helmet (100) will have a helmet transverse centerline (108), seen in FIG. 2, that can be determined by placing the helmet (100) on a horizontal surface and then drawing a vertical line at the midpoint of the helmet length (105). Similarly, every helmet (100) will have a helmet longitudinal centerline (109), seen in FIGS. 1 and 6, that can be determined by drawing a line from the helmet front (103) to helmet rear (104) at the midpoint of the helmet width (106). The helmet (100) has a helmet ledge (120) along the edge where the helmet shell (110) ends and the edge turns inward toward a user's head, as seen in FIG. 1. Additionally the helmet (100) has a helmet apex (107) that is the highest point of the helmet (100) when resting on a horizontal surface. Further, most helmets (100) will have some type of helmet retainer (130) to secure the helmet (100) on a user's head, seen as a strap located under a user's chin in FIGS. 1 and 2.

The chin protection system is releasably attached to the helmet (100) without any modifications to the helmet through the use of an elastically-deformable helmet cover (200), seen in FIGS. 3-6. The helmet cover (200) is designed to stretch and conform to the shape of the helmet (100). It includes a helmet cover primary body (210), which stretches over the helmet shell (110), and a helmet cover skirt (220), which cooperates with at least a portion of the helmet ledge (120) to retain helmet cover (200) on the helmet (100). The helmet cover (200) has a helmet cover dextral side (201), a helmet cover sinistral side (202), a helmet cover front (203), a helmet cover rear (204), a helmet cover length (205), a helmet cover width (206), a helmet cover apex (207), a helmet cover transverse centerline (208), and a helmet cover longitudinal centerline (209). The helmet cover (200) is stretchable so that (i) the helmet cover length (205) is variable by at least twenty percent from an unstretched state to a stretched state, and (ii) the helmet cover width (206) is variable by at least twenty percent from an unstretched state to a stretched state, thereby accommodating a wide range of helmet sizes and shapes. Typically a user would install the helmet cover (200) by locating the helmet skirt (220) along a helmet ledge (120) at the front or rear of the helmet (100) and then stretching the helmet cover (200) over the remaining portion of the helmet (100) until the helmet skirt (220) can cooperate with the helmet ledge (120) at the opposite side of the helmet (100).

The chin protection system also includes a chin protector (300) having a protector dextral side (301) and a protector sinistral side (302), as seen in FIGS. 4 and 5. In one particular embodiment the chin protector (300) includes a protector contact region (303) that is concave in shape, padded, and configured to conform to the shape of a human chin. In such an embodiment the chin protector (300) may also include a dextral protector strap (304) and a sinistral protector strap (305). Unlike the traditional helmet retainer (130) designed to keep the helmet securely in place on a user's head during an impact, the chin protector (300) is designed to cover majority of a user's chin and cushion it during an impact to the chin. In yet another embodiment the chin protector (300) is non-elastic, whereas the other components of the chin protection system are elastic.

The chin protection system also includes a pliable retainer (400) extending from the helmet cover dextral side (201) to the helmet cover sinistral side (202), as seen in FIGS. 3-6. The pliable retainer (400) may extend from side to side on the exterior of the helmet cover (200), on the interior of the helmet cover (200), or partially on the exterior and partially on the interior, as seen in FIG. 6. The pliable retainer (400) has a retainer dextral end (401) and a retainer sinistral end (402). It is worth noting at this point that although only a dextral side elevation, or right side elevation, is shown in FIG. 3, one skilled in the art will understand that any “sinistral,” or left side, elements not shown in the figures but discussed herein are the same as those illustrated and discussed with respect to the dextral side.

The pliable retainer (400) is connected to the helmet cover (200) with a primary retainer-to-cover connection (410) at a point between the helmet cover transverse centerline (208) and the helmet cover rear (204). In other words, the pliable retainer (400) is connected to the helmet cover (201) in the rear half of the helmet cover (200) to facilitate stability of the helmet cover (201) on the helmet (100), minimize the likelihood of the helmet cover (200) sliding around on the helmet (100), and to better align with the orientation of the chin protector (300) when installed across a user's chin. The protector dextral side (301) is adjustably connected to the retainer dextral end (401), and the protector sinistral side (302) is adjustably connected to the retainer sinistral end (402).

The pliable retainer (400) allows the chin protector (300) to be securely attached to the helmet cover (200), and thus the helmet (100), without being directly attached to either the helmet cover (200) or the helmet (300). In order for the helmet cover (200) to be easily stretched to accommodate and conform to a wide range of helmets, the material for the helmet cover (200) must be relatively lightweight and very elastic. The present chin protection system is designed to snugly fit the chin protector (300) against the chin of the user and therefore the user must adjust the length of the chin protector (300) so that it is being pulled against the user's chin by the pliable retainer (400). As such, the pliable retainer (400) provides additional helmet stability so that it remains in place during rapid head movements as would be common while performing tricks and participating in extreme sports. Attaching the chin protector (300) directly to the lightweight helmet cover (200) would not supply the necessary tension to the chin protector (300) to ensure that it stays in place during an impact and would likely cause the helmet cover (200) to undesirably move around on the helmet (100). Additionally, such an attachment methodology would result in areas of high stress within the helmet cover (200), which may lead to premature failure of the highly elastically-deformable material.

The helmet cover (200) may be made from a combination of natural and synthetic fibers such as expandable synthetic fibers including elastane and nylon. Elastane is a synthetic polymer known for its exceptional elasticity. It is stronger and more durable than rubber, consisting of a long chain polymer called polyurethane, which is produced by reacting a polyester with a diisocyanate. Elastane contains at least 85% polyurethane. The polymer is converted into a fiber using a dry spinning technique. At room temperature elastane can be stretched and expanded to twice its original dimensional size and, after removal of the tensile load, it will immediately return to its original size. Elastane is compatible with other materials, and can be spun with other types of fibers to produce unique fabrics, which have the characteristics of both fibers. Nylon is a synthetic thermoplastic fiber (Nylon melts/glazes easily at relatively low temperatures) with round, smooth and shiny filament fibers. Nylon is related chemically to the protein fibers silk and wool. These synthetic fibers and fabrics may be combined to form the stretchable portion of the helmet cover (200).

As seen in FIG. 5, in one particular embodiment the helmet cover (200) includes at least a helmet cover primary panel (230), a helmet cover dextral panel (240), and a helmet cover sinistral panel (250) to further improve the stability of the helmet cover (200) on a wide variety of helmets (100). In this embodiment the panels are preferably joined to one another in a longitudinal direction thereby accommodating a wide variety of helmet ear-to-ear curvatures, which is a primary area of variation among helmet styles and manufacturers. The inside of the helmet cover (200) may grip promoting features such as a plurality of gripping projections that contact the helmet and reduce the likelihood of the helmet cover (200) sliding around on the helmet (100). Such gripping projections may be include a series of silicon, or other polymer, dots or strips, or a grip promoting, or anti-slip, coating on at least a portion of the interior of the helmet cover (200). Likewise, such grip promoting features may be provided on any portion of the pliable retainer (400) that comes in contact with the helmet (100). In one particular embodiment, namely that seen in FIG. 6, such grip promoting features are provided on the portion of the pliable retainer (400) that passes under the helmet cover (200) and contact the helmet (100) within the vicinity of the helmet cover longitudinal centerline (209).

In one particular embodiment, the pliable retainer (400) is less elastic than the helmet cover (200), and in an even further embodiment the pliable retainer (400) is at least twenty percent less elastic than the helmet cover (200). The elasticity of the pliable retainer (400) is important to ensure that the user may adjust the tension placed on the chin protector (300) while not adversely effecting the helmet cover's (200) fit and conformity to the helmet (100). Further, the location at which the pliable retainer (400) is connected to the helmet cover (200) is important to the performance of the chin protection system. In fact, in yet another embodiment is has been found that the primary retainer-to-cover connection (410) is preferably located along the helmet cover longitudinal centerline (209) further improve the stability of the helmet cover (200) and pliable retainer (400) on the helmet (100).

As seen in FIG. 3, the pliable retainer (400) is fixed to the helmet cover (200) to define a retainer axis (404) and a retainer axis angle (405) measured from the helmet cover transverse centerline (208). The helmet cover transverse centerline (208) may be measured with the helmet cover (200) located on or off of a helmet (100). In one particular embodiment the retainer axis angle (405) is within a range of five degrees to forty-five degrees, thereby ensuring that the pliable retainer (400) is located behind the helmet apex (107) and is closely aligned with the orientation of the tensile force that the pliable retainer (400) applies to the chin protector (300). Obviously, the orientation of the chin protector (300) when secured to the chin of a user is dependent upon the physical characteristics of the user. Therefore, positioning the pliable retainer (400) such that the retainer axis angle (405) is within the above range provides the flexibility necessary to be closely aligned with the orientation of the chin protector (300) for majority of potential users. As used herein the phrase “closely aligned” means that the retainer axis angle (405) is within forty-five degrees of the orientation of the chin protector (300); however in another embodiment the alignment is preferably within twenty-five degrees.

Yet another embodiment incorporates a first auxiliary retainer-to-cover connection (420), seen in FIG. 3, connecting the pliable retainer (400) to the helmet cover dextral side (201), and a second auxiliary retainer-to-cover connection (430), not illustrated but identical to the first auxiliary retainer-to-cover connection (420) seen in FIG. 3 except located on the sinistral side, connecting the pliable retainer (400) to the helmet cover sinistral side (202). In this embodiment the pliable retainer (400) is only connected to the helmet cover (200) at three locations, thereby ensuring that it may be stretched independent of the helmet cover (200) so that a user preferred amount of tension is applied to the chin protector (300). A further variation of this embodiment locates the first auxiliary retainer-to-cover connection (420) at a point at which the helmet cover skirt (220) connects to the helmet cover primary body (210) at the helmet cover dextral side (201), and locates the second auxiliary retainer-to-cover connection (430) at a point at which the helmet cover skirt (220) connects to the helmet cover primary body (210) at the helmet cover sinistral side (202).

With continued reference to FIG. 3, another embodiment of the chin protection system incorporates a pliable retainer (400) further including a non-elastic dextral retainer-to-protector connection (440) connected to the pliable retainer (400) between the first auxiliary retainer-to-cover connection (420) and the primary retainer-to-cover connection (410), as well as a non-elastic sinistral retainer-to-protector connection (450) connected to the pliable retainer (400) between the second auxiliary retainer-to-cover connection (430) and the primary retainer-to-cover connection (410). In this embodiment the protector dextral side (301) is adjustably connected to the non-elastic dextral retainer-to-protector connection (440), and the protector sinistral side (302) is adjustably connected to the non-elastic sinistral retainer-to-protector connection (450). Therefore, the tensile load on the pliable retainer (400), applied when a user tightens the chin protector (300) for secure placement about the chin, is applied to the pliable retainer (400) between the locations that it is secured to the helmet cover (200). This unique loading of the pliable retainer (400) allows a user to utilize the pliable retainer (400) when tightening the chin protector (300) to achieve the desired degree of tightness on the user's chin, while effectively balancing the sinistral and dextral tensile loads placed on the pliable retainer (400) about the primary retainer-to-cover connection (410). This promotes a centrally located even load being applied to the helmet cover (200) and being transferred down to the helmet (100) thereby reducing the likelihood that the helmet cover (200) or helmet (100) would tend to migrate toward either side of the user's head during use.

Just as the pliable retainer's (400) location, orientation, and connection point to the helmet cover (200), affect the stability of the chin protection system so to does the width of the pliable retainer (400). Thus, in one embodiment the pliable retainer (400) has a retainer width (403) that is at least ten percent of the unstretched helmet cover length (205). This relationship reduces the likelihood of the pliable retainer (400) twisting, while spreading out the load that is transferred to the helmet cover (200) thereby promoting the stability of the helmet cover (200) on the helmet (100) and reducing the likelihood of the helmet cover (200) migrating toward the helmet front (103) during jarring activities and rapid head movements, as would be common during extreme sports activities. In fact, in another embodiment it is preferred if the pliable retainer (400) has a retainer width (403) that is at least one inch.

Another avenue for further promoting these goals is found in yet another embodiment which introduces a setback distance that is the minimum distance between the retainer axis (404) and the helmet cover transverse centerline (208). In this embodiment a setback distance that is at least ten percent of the helmet cover length (205) further promotes the stability of the helmet cover (200) and pliable retainer (400) on the helmet (100). Even further, a further embodiment incorporates a setback distance of at least one inch.

Numerous alterations, modifications, and variations of the preferred embodiments disclosed herein will be apparent to those skilled in the art and they are all anticipated and contemplated to be within the spirit and scope of this application. For example, although specific embodiments have been described in detail, those with skill in the art will understand that the preceding embodiments and variations can be modified to incorporate various types of substitute and or additional or alternative steps, procedures, and the order for such steps and procedures. The corresponding structures, materials, acts, and equivalents of all methods, means, and step plus function elements in the claims below are intended to include any structure, material, or acts for performing the functions in combination with other claimed elements as specifically claimed. 

We claim:
 1. A chin protection system for releasable attachment to a helmet (100) with a helmet shell (110) and a helmet ledge (120), comprising: A) an elastically-deformable helmet cover (200) including a helmet cover primary body (210) and a helmet cover skirt (220), wherein the helmet cover (200) has a helmet cover dextral side (201), a helmet cover sinistral side (202), a helmet cover front (203), a helmet cover rear (204), a helmet cover length (205), a helmet cover width (206), a helmet cover apex (207), a helmet cover transverse centerline (208), and a helmet cover longitudinal centerline (209), wherein the helmet cover (200) is stretchable so that (i) the helmet cover length (205) is variable by at least twenty percent from an unstretched state to a stretched state, and (ii) the helmet cover width (206) is variable by at least twenty percent from an unstretched state to a stretched state, such that the helmet cover primary body (210) conforms to the helmet shell (110) and the helmet cover skirt (220) cooperates with at least a portion of the helmet ledge (120) to retain helmet cover (200) on the helmet (100); B) a chin protector (300) having a protector dextral side (301) and a protector sinistral side (302); and C) a pliable retainer (400) extending from the helmet cover dextral side (201) to the helmet cover sinistral side (202) wherein the pliable retainer (400) has a retainer dextral end (401) and a retainer sinistral end (402), wherein the pliable retainer (400) is connected to the helmet cover (200) with a primary retainer-to-cover connection (410) at a point between the helmet cover transverse centerline (208) and the helmet cover rear (204), the protector dextral side (301) is adjustably connected to the retainer dextral end (401), and the protector sinistral side (302) is adjustably connected to the retainer sinistral end (402).
 2. The chin protection system of claim 1 wherein the pliable retainer (400) is less elastic than the helmet cover (200).
 3. The chin protection system of claim 2 wherein the pliable retainer (400) is at least twenty percent less elastic than the helmet cover (200).
 4. The chin protection system of claim 1 wherein the primary retainer-to-cover connection (410) is located along the helmet cover longitudinal centerline (209).
 5. The chin protection system of claim 1 wherein the pliable retainer (400) is fixed to the helmet cover (200) to define a retainer axis (404) and a retainer axis angle (405) measured from the helmet cover transverse centerline (208).
 6. The chin protection system of claim 5 wherein the retainer axis angle (405) is within a range of five degrees to forty-five degrees.
 7. The chin protection system of claim 1 further including a first auxiliary retainer-to-cover connection (420) connecting the pliable retainer (400) to the helmet cover dextral side (201), and a second auxiliary retainer-to-cover connection (430) connecting the pliable retainer (400) to the helmet cover sinistral side (202).
 8. The chin protection system of claim 7 wherein the first auxiliary retainer-to-cover connection (420) is located at a point at which the helmet cover skirt (220) connects to the helmet cover primary body (210) at the helmet cover dextral side (201), and the second auxiliary retainer-to-cover connection (430) is located at a point at which the helmet cover skirt (220) connects to the helmet cover primary body (210) at the helmet cover sinistral side (202).
 9. The chin protection system of claim 8 wherein the pliable retainer (400) further includes a non-elastic dextral retainer-to-protector connection (440) connected to the pliable retainer (400) between the first auxiliary retainer-to-cover connection (420) and the primary retainer-to-cover connection (410), and a non-elastic sinistral retainer-to-protector connection (450) connected to the pliable retainer (400) between the second auxiliary retainer-to-cover connection (430) and the primary retainer-to-cover connection (410), and wherein the protector dextral side (301) is adjustably connected to the non-elastic dextral retainer-to-protector connection (440), and the protector sinistral side (302) is adjustably connected to the non-elastic sinistral retainer-to-protector connection (450).
 10. The chin protection system of claim 1 wherein the pliable retainer (400) has a retainer width (403) that is at least ten percent of the helmet cover length (205).
 11. The chin protection system of claim 1 wherein the pliable retainer (400) has a retainer width (403) that is at least one inch.
 12. The chin protection system of claim 1 wherein a setback distance between the retainer axis (404) and the helmet cover transverse centerline (208) is at least ten percent of the helmet cover length (205).
 13. The chin protection system of claim 1 wherein a setback distance between the retainer axis (404) and the helmet cover transverse centerline (208) is at least one inch.
 14. The chin protection system of claim 1 wherein the pliable retainer (400) is in tension when the elastically-deformable helmet cover (200) is installed on the helmet (100).
 15. The chin protection system of claim 1 wherein the chin protector (300) further includes a protector contact region (303) that is concave in shape, padded, and configured to conform to the shape of a human chin.
 16. The chin protection system of claim 1 wherein the chin protector (300) is non-elastic.
 17. A chin protection system for releasable attachment to a helmet (100) with a helmet shell (110) and a helmet ledge (120), comprising: A) an elastically-deformable helmet cover (200) including a helmet cover primary body (210) and a helmet cover skirt (220), wherein the helmet cover (200) has a helmet cover dextral side (201), a helmet cover sinistral side (202), a helmet cover front (203), a helmet cover rear (204), a helmet cover length (205), a helmet cover width (206), a helmet cover apex (207), a helmet cover transverse centerline (208), and a helmet cover longitudinal centerline (209), wherein the helmet cover (200) is stretchable so that (i) the helmet cover length (205) is variable by at least twenty percent from an unstretched state to a stretched state, and (ii) the helmet cover width (206) is variable by at least twenty percent from an unstretched state to a stretched state, such that the helmet cover primary body (210) conforms to the helmet shell (110) and the helmet cover skirt (220) cooperates with at least a portion of the helmet ledge (120) to retain helmet cover (200) on the helmet (100); B) a chin protector (300) having a protector dextral side (301), a protector sinistral side (302), and a protector contact region (303) that is concave in shape, padded, and configured to conform to the shape of a human chin, wherein the chin protector (300) is non-elastic; and C) a pliable retainer (400) extending from the helmet cover dextral side (201) to the helmet cover sinistral side (202) wherein the pliable retainer (400) has a retainer dextral end (401) and a retainer sinistral end (402), wherein the pliable retainer (400) is less elastic than the helmet cover (200) and is connected to the helmet cover (200) along the helmet cover longitudinal centerline (209) with a primary retainer-to-cover connection (410) at a point between the helmet cover transverse centerline (208) and the helmet cover rear (204), the pliable retainer (400) has a retainer width (403) that is at least ten percent of the helmet cover length (205), the protector dextral side (301) is adjustably connected to the retainer dextral end (401), the protector sinistral side (302) is adjustably connected to the retainer sinistral end (402), wherein the pliable retainer (400) is fixed to the helmet cover (200) to define a retainer axis (404) and a retainer axis angle (405) measured from the helmet cover transverse centerline (208) wherein the retainer axis angle (405) is within a range of five degrees to forty-five degrees, wherein a setback distance between the retainer axis (404) and the helmet cover transverse centerline (208) is at least ten percent of the helmet cover length (205), and wherein the pliable retainer (400) is in tension when the elastically-deformable helmet cover (200) is installed on the helmet (100).
 18. The chin protection system of claim 17 further including a first auxiliary retainer-to-cover connection (420) connecting the pliable retainer (400) to the helmet cover dextral side (201), and a second auxiliary retainer-to-cover connection (430) connecting the pliable retainer (400) to the helmet cover sinistral side (202).
 19. The chin protection system of claim 18 wherein the first auxiliary retainer-to-cover connection (420) is located at a point at which the helmet cover skirt (220) connects to the helmet cover primary body (210) at the helmet cover dextral side (201), and the second auxiliary retainer-to-cover connection (430) is located at a point at which the helmet cover skirt (220) connects to the helmet cover primary body (210) at the helmet cover sinistral side (202).
 20. The chin protection system of claim 19 wherein the pliable retainer (400) further includes a non-elastic dextral retainer-to-protector connection (440) connected to the pliable retainer (400) between the first auxiliary retainer-to-cover connection (420) and the primary retainer-to-cover connection (410), and a non-elastic sinistral retainer-to-protector connection (450) connected to the pliable retainer (400) between the second auxiliary retainer-to-cover connection (430) and the primary retainer-to-cover connection (410), and wherein the protector dextral side (301) is adjustably connected to the non-elastic dextral retainer-to-protector connection (440), and the protector sinistral side (302) is adjustably connected to the non-elastic sinistral retainer-to-protector connection (450). 